“I know we urgently need to expand, and that your solution is simple and has merit, but the more I ponder it, the more I see the benefits of moving the orphanage away from all the temptations and cruel depravity of the city. Besides…” She winced. “In hindsight, the only reason I wanted that building so badly was because you chose it over me.”
“And the only reason I wanted it so badly was because I got my dream all wrong, so at least consider it as a short-term arrangement?” After the most spectacular few hours of his life, he and Venus were now snuggled up together beneath his fancy new sheets.
“But what about all your meticulous plans for all three buildings? Your stage and the giant, swooping staircase?” Gal had just reiterated his offer to sell her the building for the same bargain price that he had paid for it, had explained that he wasn’t the least bit bothered about doing it, and even confessed that thanks to all the unforeseen costs of renovating three buildings to his exacting specifications instead of two, the money would come in handy. Despite all that, for reasons best known to her stubborn and unfathomable self, she was now the onereluctant to be convinced this was the right thing to do. An irony that wasn’t lost on him when he considered how much consternation his owning the building had caused in the first place.
“How many times do I have to tell you that my grandpa taught me that the best-laid plans are always adaptable? So I’m adaptable and gladly so. Circumstances change, Venus, and in this case for the better.” He could tell she didn’t believe him, so he guessed he would have to spend a lifetime convincing her that she was, without a doubt, the best opportunity fate had ever gifted him. “Have it for a couple of years and then sell it back to me when you find a better place to put it.” As she rolled her eyes, he came up with another solution. “At least borrow some of my space for a little while.”
“Absolutely not. Never a lender or borrower be—wasn’t that what your grandpa also taught you?”
Lord, but she was maddening. “Rent it from me then. Mr. Evans hasn’t even started knocking down walls on the second and third floors, so it would be just as easy to add a little bit of my building into yours while you look for a pretty new home for your orphanage. Trust me—it takes time to find the right property, and then more time to make it fit for purpose.”
“We could borrow a room or two… as a temporary solution.”
“Hallelujah! We’ve finally found a compromise on something.” He snuggled closer. “And I like the idea of a little bit of me jutting into a little bit of you.”
She nudged him for that unsubtle innuendo, then frowned again. “But moving it out of the city also still concerns me.” She twisted within his arms to face him, her hair a riot of mussed curls thanks to the exuberance of their lovemaking. His Venus had been as passionate and wanton as her name suggested, and the reality of her in the throes of pleasure had far surpassed all his wildest fantasies.
Within minutes of her first orgasm, she had been ready and quite determined to have another, so Gal had been only too happy to let her take charge in order to achieve it, then had watched in uncharacteristicallypassive wonder as she had ridden him. Head thrown back in abandon, magnificent breasts jutting proudly, until she came noisily, dragging him right with her. Her enthusiasm had piqued his imagination and given him a few more fantasies about how he could have his wicked way with her. And next time he’d be the one in charge.
Already his body was twitching at the prospect, when by rights it should be exhausted.
“The orphanage relies on donations for survival.” She propped herself on one elbow. “Those donations could very well dry up if we move to where the wealthy cannot see us. Here we remind them that we exist. Our location shames them into supporting us.”
Gal put aside his lustful thoughts to ponder that. “It’s never wise to rely on charity. In business it’s always better to be self-sufficient and generate your own revenue.”
She gave him one of her schoolteacher’s looks. “In case it has escaped your notice, the Covent Garden Asylum for Orphans isn’t a business, Galahad.”
“It could be.”
“Are you proposing we hawk out the children for money? Sell them as indentured servants for profit? Or should we simply scrap all lessons and have them sew sacks or make matches instead?”
“I do so adore your British sarcasm.” He dropped a kiss on her outraged nose. “How many times do I need to tell you that you need to stop thinking so small, Venus. Sometimes you need to speculate to accumulate, to scan the horizon for possibilities and adapt to the circumstances.” He waved his hand in the air. “Somewhere out there is the perfect solution to your problem. All we need to do is find it.”
“Just what I need, another puzzle to solve.” She sat up, irritated, and to his delight clean forgot that she was naked.
“I’ll find the solution for you, Venus, I promise. I’ve a knack for making money and I like the challenge of thinking up new ways to make it.”
“You’d do that for me?” Her softened gaze did odd things to hisheart—but he liked it. Didn’t feel threatened in the slightest that she now held that power.
“I’d do anything for you.” Because the sight of her bare breasts had tipped his body from just twitching to downright desperate, he jumped out of bed and held out his hand. “But while I ponder how to make your orphanage pay for itself, follow me.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see.” He grabbed the single candle he had lit the second the sun had gone down and tugged her to follow.
“Don’t I need clothes?” She pointed to the tangled pile on the floor and quirked one eyebrow when he shook his head.
“I need you just as you are.” He led her out into the cavernous expanse of his unfinished apartment. “Because now that we’ve christened the bed, we need to christen my desk.”
“You want to…”
“Yes.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“On the desk?”
